Rome Itinerary -- done my homework, please comment
 

Two couples traveling to Rome after touring Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast with an organized tour group. We were last in Rome for a short visit in 2002 and the other couple has never been. We will have three full days to sightsee. Some things are already booked and cast in stone. Everywhere else, there is a lot of flexibility. I am open to any and all suggestions for improvement and have also posted a few specific questions. We will be staying at the Hotel Due Torri near Piazza Navona. Thank you!

Restaurant suggestions and suggestions for the evenings particularly welcome!

DAY 1 - SUNDAY, MAY 31
Train arrives from Naples @ 2:30; Get to and settle in hotel.
Afternoon - Walk historic area
--Piazza Navona
--Church of St. Agnes
--Church of San Luigi dei Francesi
--Pantheon (inside will be closed)
--Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
--Church of Sant' Ignazio
--Parliament
--Trevi Fountain (yes, I know it's under construction)
--Spanish Steps
Evening - Open to suggestions, may opt to eat near our hotel. Any suggestions?

DAY 2 - MONDAY, JUNE 1
8:00 - Walk to Spanish Steps Metro, take Metro to Cavour stop. Walk to St. Peter in Chains Church. Walk to Colosseum.
Tour Colosseum on our own.
Walk to San Clemente Church. Tour the upper and lower church before closing at 12:30.

Walk to St. John Lateran Church and also see the Scala Santa.

Rest up and have a nice lunch in this area. QUESTION: Any suggestions for lunch options?

AFTERNOON – Walk or taxi to Forum entrance near the Colosseum. Explore the Forum on our own. See Vittorio Emanuele II monument. Evening is open. Suggestions??

DAY 3 - TUESDAY, JUNE 2
MORNING - Tour Pantheon
Walk or taxi to Vatican Museum. Eat lunch before touring the museum. QUESTION: I read in another post of having pizza al Tonglio on via della Grazie. Anyone have more information about this lunch option? Other suggestions near Vatican Museum?

12:30 Tour of Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica with A FRIEND IN ROME -BOOKED
EVENING: Open. QUESTION: Any suggestions??

DAY 4 - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3
MORNING - Walk to Borghese Gallery via Piazza del Popolo.
10:30 - Arrive at Gallery for 11:00 tour. QUESTION: Is there still an English docent led tour at 11 am? I have not booked the Gallery time yet, but I think this will be the best arrangement.

Midday: Lunch after the Gallery. QUESTION: Anyone have any lunch recommendations in this area? Taxi back to Hotel

LATER AFTERNOON: Trastevere Walk
--Cross Ponte Cestio
--St. Cecilia Church (open 16:00 - 18:30)
--Santa Maria Trastevere
EVENING: Open in Trastevere. Taxi back to hotel. Pack for return trip home.

QUESTION: Roma Pass??? I am thinking No.

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.

San Clemente Church is terrific for archaeology and religious history buffs. You'd better get your Borghese tickets ASAP. Admissions are limited, as is time you are allowed to be in the galleries, but it is stunning. The park itself is a joy to just walk through - dog walkers, joggers, in the early morning.

We used the Roma Pass, great for transportation around. Used it for the Borghese (most expensive place) as well as the Coliseum/Forum combo with skip the line - and there IS a line. You need to figure what days of the week the gallery is open. You'll need a guide book of some kind or else the coliseum and forum will just be artifacts with no explanation unless you can hang on the sidelines of some tour group to eavesdrop.

Too bad you don't have Naples on your itinerary. (WONDERFUL National Archaeology Museum with all the artifacts from Pompeii) - and a trip to Herculaneum which is more intact with original stuff than Pompeii - a full day. Easy train from Naples. Have fun!
PS unless you are in Naples, Italian pizza sucks.

Thanks IAm. We will book the Gallery shortly. Naples is a part of our tour group itinerary (two weeks of touring) before we come to Rome and, yes, the Museum will be a part of our group sightseeing (Pompeii and Herculaneum also).

>>>Pantheon (inside will be closed)<<<

Is the inside closed for some reason?

>>>8:00 - Walk to Spanish Steps Metro, take Metro to Cavour stop.<<<

It might be more convenient to catch the 117 bus on Via del Corso and get off at the Via Serpenti/Via Cavour closest stop (stops on Serpenti before turning on to Cavour). S Pietro in Vincoli is very close. Or stay on the 117 to San Clemente and visit it first.

http://atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=9

>>>Walk to St. John Lateran Church and also see the Scala Santa.<<<

Again, the 117 as that's the turn around point for it (also stops at the Colosseum).

>>>MORNING - Walk to Borghese Gallery via Piazza del Popolo.<<<

I would not walk this as it's pretty much all uphill. Take the 116 (see my link above). If you want to walk through the park, walk back.

>>>QUESTION: Roma Pass??? I am thinking No.<<<

If you were using the 3 day pass (36€), you would need to schedule your days to take advantage of it. Some of the most expensive entries are the Borghese (16€) and Colosseum (12 or 14€). The pass takes off the first two visits as your free visits. Reservation is still required for the Borghese even with the pass.

Kybourbon, Pantheon website states the closing time is 5:30. We may be there before that, but I think not.

Great info on the bus line 117. I will check that out. And, again, thanks much for the information about the planned walk to Borghese Gallery via Piazza del Popolo being all uphill. I wasn't aware of that and will adjust the plan.

Re: the Roma Pass...I am thinking the only two places it will be useful will be the Colosseum and the Borghese, which would cost 28€ without it. It's a three day pass, right? So, I need to consider if we would use public transit enough or find bypassing ticket lines worth it. Hmmm, maybe...

Anyone have any restaurant suggestions?

For dining very near your hotel, I can recommend La Campana. It is a regular for us in Rome, and only steps from where you're staying. Terrific pasta in a coda di vaccanara sauce, and also nice artichokes. The Monte Bianco is a very popular dessert there, but I haven't had it. Just seen people putting their orders in when they arrive in order to get it before it sells out.

A very pleasant walk to the other end of the Via Coronari will bring you to Gelato al Teatro, which is outstanding. This is serious gelato.

Although we did not stay in the area you will be, we just returned from a short trip to Rome and my trip report is regarding our hotel and restaurants/bars we frequented. Attaching it here for your convenience :

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ti-area.cfm?17

Thank you, tuscanlife, we will check out La Campana. Do you remember the cost range of a meal there? Gelato suggestion is much appreciated as well.

Flame, enjoyed reading your trip report. Thanks for the suggestions.

kybourbon, just to clarify it's the walk through the Borghese Park grounds that is uphill from Piazza del Popolo to the Gallery, correct?

We were in Rome a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed La Campana as well as Armando al Pantheon (near the Pantheon) and Fiascetteria Beltramme (near Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps).